Much more than just a music festival, the Axis Mundi Harvest event is a full experience that will get you involved and inspired within the vibrant mountain community that is Revelstoke.

The Main Street Cafe, downtown Revelstoke. Photo: Aaron Orlando/Revelstoke Mountaineer

This quaint mountain town will set the stage for a variety of talented musicians during the September 18–20 weekend plus showcase a number of workshops, inspiring lectures and a food and outdoor gear market to get you moving and loving life.

Revelstoke is a unique place where the local thrift store can sometimes be the busiest shop in town and residents rock a variety of styles from head to toe high-tech outdoor gear or the skater or hippie inclined. It’s not a place where you dress to the nines but you can feel comfortable in just about everything else.

The full downtown experience of Revelstoke showcases an array of cute cafes and independent retailers with garden lined sidewalks, perfect for leisurely strolls. Two bear statues guard the entrance to Revelstoke’s main street, Mackenzie Avenue, which will feature the Hundred Miles Harvest Market, the outdoor adventure market and downtown music events.

The Revelstoke Farm & Craft Market, every Saturday morning in downtown Revelstoke. Photo: Aaron Orlando/Revelstoke Mountaineer

By night the festival’s headlining bands will play at the Revelstoke Mountain Resort (or ‘RMR’ as the locals call it) on Mount Mackenzie. The resort, winter home to epic powder and the largest vertical in North America, provides a stunning view of the town with a gondola ride up to the natural amphitheater where Walk Off The Earth and Ashley MacIsaac will play.

If you’ve never been to Revelstoke, you’ll leave with a thirst to return and a wonderment for the locals that get to live this vibrant outdoor lifestyle everyday, but you will never forget this truly unique Revelstoke music festival.

The entire weekend schedule of events is available on the Axis Mundi website but we’ve compiled an itinerary to maximize your time:

The experience itinerary

Friday (September 18)

Start your evening the way the locals do and enjoy the balmy night amongst friends at the outdoor Grizzly Plaza on Mackenzie Avenue. Grab some gelato and find a space in the provided seating and enjoy some blues as harmonica virtuoso Sherman TANK Doucette stirs the crowd at 6 p.m.

Acoustic ensemble Tequila Mockingbird Ochestra hail from the lush lands of Victoria. Photo: Bitter North Photography Factor

Then at 7:45 p.m. Vancouver’s Buckman Coe will take the stage with his soulful melodies.

If you prefer to watch the action with dinner and a drink, book a patio table at Chubby Funsters.

Now that the weekend has just started, head to the Regent Pub at 9:15 p.m. and catch the bohemian Tequila Mockingbird Orchestra. Stay for a drink or two or keep moving with either The Nyundo School Road Show at 10 p.m. at the United Church or wander into Installation Alley in the Downtown Alley.

Head to The Last Drop and your last stop for the night at 11 p.m. for the sexy and soulful tunes of The Walkervilles.

Saturday (September 19)

Veggies at the Revelstoke Farm & Craft Market, downtown Revelstoke. Photo: Aaron Orlando/Revelstoke Mountaineer

Check out the local community with a morning visit to Revelstoke’s bustling farmer’s markets at the Grizzly Plaza, which runs from 8:30 a.m. This is one of the best small town farmers markets in B.C., and it’s sure to be packed for harvest season. Buy local produce to enjoy during your stay and grab a hoodie or shirt from one of the local designers’ stalls — they’re the perfect Revelstoke souvenir with that special ‘stoke style flavour.

Pop over to The Modern Bakeshop & Café just before 10 a.m. for a coffee and cake and settle in to discover the Six String Nation and the guitar that embodies the spirit of Canada.

Head over to the C3 Church at 1 p.m. to hear mountain survivor Jamie Andrew tell his thrilling tale how he overcame the challenges of a life-altering mountaineering injury to regain his love for the outdoors.

Enjoy a late lunch on the patio of Mountain Meals, choosing from a selection of homemade meals. Head back to the C3 church at 3 p.m. to hear from Chandra Crawford, Canada’s Olympic gold cross-country skier.

Originator of the Six String Nation guitar Jowi Taylor. Photo: Six String Nation publicity shot

You have some spare time now or you can head in early to the Revelstoke Mountain Resort for the 5 p.m. Women’s Mountain Run.

Then it’s time for a big night of music with pop-style Highs at 6 p.m., sister trio Baskery at 7.30 p.m., the massive up-and-coming Walk Off The Earth at 9:15 p.m. and the beat-motivated Adham Shaikh & The Outworld Orkestra at 11 p.m.

Sunday (September 20)

Enjoy a sleep in after last night before wandering around the Hundred Mile Harvest Market at Grizzly Plaza and the Adventure Market on Macdenzie Avenue, kicking off from 10 a.m. (if you haven’t booked a spot on the Edible Mushroom Tour at 10.30 a.m.)

Named one of the Top 25 Fittest Guys in the World in 2011, Greg Hill is an inspiring ski mountaineer. Photo: T. Chandler

Check out the Parkour Demo at 11:30 a.m. at Grizzly Plaza before heading to ski mountaineer Greg Hill‘s lecture at 1 p.m. at the C3 Church.

Have lunch in the cute converted house at Main Street Cafe and then head to the Trad to Rad workshop at The Last Drop Pub at 3 p.m.

With some spare time now you have the opportunity to wander down to Revelstoke’s green belt on Centennial Drive where a network of green spaces and trails scatter by the large fluid mass of the Columbia River.

Then it’s time to get the blanket out and set up for another night of music at the Revelstoke Mountain Resort with dirty blues duo Little Hurricane at 6 p.m., reggae-pop band Sticky Fingers at 7:30 p.m., rock ‘n’ roll fiddler Ashley MacIsaac at 9:15 p.m. and funky techno brothers The Floozies at 11 p.m.

Don’t miss:

For families:

-The Kids Rock Band with Roxy Roth at 11 a.m. Saturday at United Church followed by the Nyundo School Road Show at 12 p.m.

-The teen’s mountain run is on at 4:30 p.m. on Saturday at RMR or check out the Soup and a Smile Community Meal at the United Church at 4 p.m. on Saturday.

Mountaineer Jamie Andrews. Photo: Jamie Andrews press shot

For the adventure driven:

-Mountaineer Jamie Andrew’s lecture at the C3 Church on Saturday at 1 p.m. is sure to inspire, as is Olympic Gold cross-country skier Chandra Crawford’s at 3 p.m. On Sunday ski mountaineer Greg Hill will talk at 1 p.m.

-Get involved in the women’s mountain run at RMR at 5 p.m. on Saturday or the men’s at 5 p.m. on Sunday.

-Be sure to check out the Adventure Market on Mackenzie Avenue during Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m.

-There will be a number of Parkour Demos on Sunday at Grizzly Plaza showcasing the sport of movement in urban environments.

Activist Severn Cullis-Suzuki. Photo: Myles Clark.

If you’re politically motivated:

-Don’t miss intergenerational justice activist Severn Cullis-Suzuki at Revelstoke Performing Arts Centre at 2 p.m. on Sunday.

If you’re eco conscious:

-Be sure to sign up for an edible mushroom tour at either 10:30 a.m. or 1 p.m. on Sunday and check out the Hundred Mile Harvest Market at the Grizzly Plaza on Sunday at 10 a.m. This market is about the role food plays within a community and how it reduces carbon footprint. Drawing from a 100-mile radius around Revelstoke, the area is remarkable for the fare it produces and you’ll find fruits, vegetables, cheeses, breads, meats, wines and beers, and more here.

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—This sponsored post was produced by the Revelstoke Mountaineer in partnership with Axis Mundi Harvest Festival.